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Upper Mustang Bike Tour
Quick facts about Upper Mustang Bike Tour
Duration
12 Days
Trip Grade
Easy
Maximum Altitude
3760m
Group Size
2 to 25 People
Starts
Kathmandu
Ends
Kathmandu
Accomodation
Hotel/Lodge
Best Time
Autumn, Spring
Trip Overview
If you love riding bikes and enjoy long, peaceful rides, then the Upper Mustang bike tour is the perfect option for exploring the Upper Mustang in this exhilarating adventure. You will have to ride in Nepal’s most remote and restricted region, which was closed to foreigners until 1992 AD. This is a thrilling adrenaline-filled bike ride excursion that lets you travel over the prehistoric prohibited Kingdom of Lo Manthang, which has deeply rooted Tibetan Buddhism culture. Similarly, the Upper Mustang bike tour will surely test the riding skills of riders in this challenging, unbelievable trip, which makes the journey even more fun and exciting.
The Upper Mustang bike tour itinerary will offer travelers untouched beauty as they ride along the Nepal-Tibet border, the last remnants of an ancient Tibetan kingdom. You’ll be riding through sensational landscapes of red hills and cliffs with amazing vistas of snow-covered peaks like Annapurna Ranges, Nilgiri, Dhaulagiri, and more. You’ll also be able to see the Earth’s deepest gorge, the Kali Gandaki Gorge, with a mind-boggling depth of 5571 meters nestled in Nepal’s Annapurna Region, during your ride to the Upper Mustang. Moreover, you will ride through the lovely Thakali villages and visit the holy Muktinath Temple with 108 Mukti Dharas (water spouts).
Your Upper Mustang Bike tour will begin with a tryout ride to major attractions of Bhaktapur like Changu Narayan and Nagarkot so that you ride and control your bike smoothly during the trip as the trails are off-roads and dangerous to the Upper Mustang. Then, you’ll ride through Pokhara, Tatopani Hot Spring through Lower Mustang, and Muktinath Temple.
You’ll have to cover a total distance of 374 km from Kathmandu Valley to Muktinath temple in just a one-way journey. Likewise, you will ride through well-trodden paths to challenging off-road trails from Muktinath to Lo Manthang, reaching an altitude of 3730 meters. Then, after exploring two days in Lo Manthang, you will ride back to Tatopani, Pokhara, and finally to Kathmandu Valley, following the same off-roads back to the city.
In this Upper Mustang bike tour, we provide bikes such as Royal Enfield Classic 250CC, Honda CRF 250, Royal Enfield Himalayan 411CC, etc., which you can choose according to your preference. If you plan to travel for the Upper Mustang bike tour in May, you can also have the unique opportunity to experience the Tiji Festival in Lo-Manthang, where you can see colorful dances and ancient traditional rituals. So, don’t miss out on this invigorating trip, especially if you are a bike lover to go on rides to make countless awesome memories.
- Owner operated
- Price match guaranteed
- Tailored made trip
- Secured online payment
Trip Highlights
- Riding bikes through Nepal’s most remote and restricted region, which was closed to foreigners until 1992 AD
- Offering an opportunity to experience the ancient Forbidden Kingdom of Lo Manthang, which is deeply rooted in Tibetan Buddhist culture
- Navigating challenging off-road trails, testing your riding skills in this exhilarating adventure
- Enjoying breathtaking vistas of red hills, cliffs, and snow-capped peaks like Annapurna, Nilgiri, and Dhaulagiri
- Witnessing the Earth’s deepest gorge, the Kali Gandaki Gorge, with a depth of 5,571 meters
- Riding through charming Thakali villages along with visiting the holy Muktinath Temple with its 108 water spouts
- Starting with a test ride to major attractions like Changu Narayan and Nagarkot to prepare for the challenging trails
- Riding a total of 374 km from Kathmandu Valley to Muktinath and back, with challenging off-road sections
- Experience the Tiji Festival in Lo-Manthang if you travel in May, featuring colorful dances and traditional rituals.
Detail Itinerary
Day 01: Arriving in Kathmandu Tribhuvan International Taking you to Hotel and Tour Arrangement
Once you arrive at the international airport in Nepal, you will be taken to your reserved hotel by our representatives, along with show you warm hospitality and welcome.
After some hours, we will come to visit you and fill in all the information regarding the Upper Mustang bike tour for you. We all make the necessary arrangements and prepare for our travel.
During your leisure time, you can visit Basantapur, Boudha Nath Stupa, Thamel area, etc., and try local Nepalese foods. You will stay overnight in Kathmandu.
Accommodation: Hotel
Max Altitude: 1,400m/4,593ft. (Kathmandu )
Day 02: Test Riding to Nagarkot, Changu Narayan and Bhaktapur
On this second day of the Upper Mustang bike tour, we will eat breakfast and check out our bikes for the ride. You will get your bikes and try for the first time. We’ll go for a test ride to key destinations of the Kathmandu Valley.
Our first stop will be Nagarkot, a hill station nearly 19 miles east of Kathmandu City where you can see amazing views of some of Nepal’s snow-capped mountains like Langtang, Everest, and Ganesh Himal.
Afterward, we will ride west to Changu Narayan, which is the 2-story oldest temple of God Bishnu in the Kathmandu Valley. We’ll have lunch here; there is some restaurant in this place. Then, we head to Bhaktapur City, which is only 30 minutes away from Changu Narayan.
You can explore Bhaktapur and see the rich sculptures and architecture in Bhaktapur Durbar Square, the 5-story temple, Golden Gate, the Art Museum, and many more. In the evening, we’ll ride back to your accommodation in Kathmandu. You should go to sleep early because tomorrow will be a very long ride to Pokhara.
Activity: 3-4 hours
Accommodation: Hotel
Day 03: Riding from Kathmandu to Pokhara
We’ll be ready and pack all the necessary gear in the early morning on this exciting 3rd day of the Upper Mustang bike tour. This will be the longest ride on this trip, and you will be riding 200 kilometers from Kathmandu to Pokhara.
We will ride our bikes following the Trisuli Khola River, enjoying a lot of beautiful scenery on the way to Pokhara. You should ride bikes very carefully and steadily, as there are many turns and bumpy roads on the journey. We stop our bikes in some places to take a rest and cool off the bike engines.
Once we get nearer to Pokhara, you can witness the beautiful vistas of the Annapurna ranges and Fishtail Mountain. After riding a bike for six to seven hours, we will finally reach Pokhara, which is also regarded as the city of lakes.
Then, we will park our bikes in the hotel lobby, look into our rooms, and have a nice rest after this long hour of riding. Then, after relaxing, we will visit Phewa Lake and Shanti Stupa and explore the lakeside area as well. We will settle here for the night in a 3-star hotel located in a lakeside area.
Activity: 6-7 hours
Accommodation: Hotel
Max Altitude: 800m/2,625ft. ()
Day 04: Riding to Tatopani Hot Spring from Pokhara
Next, after enjoying the nightlife in the beautiful Pokhara City, we will hit the road to Tatopani hot springs, which are the natural source of the hot springs. The road to Tatopani will be more demanding especially the part after Beni, due to the rocky road. After having breakfast, we will leave for the Upper Mustang bike tour.
We will travel through narrow roads, gravel, and off-road sections, under waterfalls, with exceptionally amazing views of the beauty of cliffs, cascades, villages, valleys, and many more. We’ll ride following the Kali Gandaki River to reach today’s destination, Tatopani Hot Spring.
After we get here, we unwind and relax in the natural hot springs, which will soothe your muscles, providing you with a great deal of relief. You can also go to the close-by Narchyang waterfall and take a few photos. We spend the night here for the next day’s great adventure.
Activity: 4-5 hours
Accommodation: Guesthouse/Lodge
Max Altitude: 1,190m/3,904ft. (Tatopani)
Day 05: Riding to Muktinath from Tatopani through Marpha, Jomsom, and Kagbeni
On this fifth day of your Upper Mustang bike tour, we will ride to Muktinath Temple, covering 64 kilometers from Tatopani. We start our days off with a filling and tasty breakfast. Lete village, where you can enjoy the breathtaking perspective of the Nilgiri and Annapurna ranges, will be our first stop of the day.
Afterwards, we ride following the Kali Gandaki Khola towards Marpha. Marpha village is also called the “Village of Orchards” because there are a lot of apples grown here and apple brandy is made. You can also try this apple and apple brandy as well as buy it so that you can enjoy it the night too.
Finally, we will bike to Muktinath Temple, passing through Kagbeni, which has old caverns and magnificent scenery. After reaching Muktinath at an elevation of 3,760 meters (12,333 feet), we can visit the Muktinath shrine, a precious holy shrine.
You can find many hotels and local shops here. We stay overnight here, wrapping up the day with delicious Thakali food.
Activity: 3-4 hours
Accommodation: Guesthouse/Lodge
Max Altitude: 3,760m/12,336ft. (Muktinath)
Day 06: Riding from Muktinath to Lo Manthang
We’ll get up early in the morning and go for a short hike to Muktinath Temple, which is a sacred site not only for Hindus but also for Buddhists. You can see people bathing in all the 108 water spouts, which are believed to wash away all sins. If you like, you can also bathe in these 108 water spouts, but the water will be very cold.
Then we finally continue our highlighting journey to Lo Manthang on this sixth day of the Upper Mustang bike tour. Lo Manthang is a walled city in the Upper Mustang, which lies northwest of Muktinath. Today’s ride will be mostly rocky roads and off-roads that will be challenging as well as exciting, and you will never forget the thrill of the ride of this journey.
We move through the windward and leeward villages of the mountain, where you will be capable of taking in the unique “rain shadow” landscapes of the Mustang region. Besides this, you can also see Dhaulagiri and Nilgiri peaks which are really magnificent. After a three to four hours of ride which will cover 46 kilometers, we will finally arrive Lo Manthang.
Gompas and mud-brick walls characteristic of Tibetan architecture can be seen here. This place is perfect for relaxing because it’s quiet and far away. This place has equally beautiful surroundings. You’re going to sleep in this peaceful place tonight.
Activity: 3-4 hours
Accommodation: Guesthouse/Lodge
Max Altitude: 3,730m/12,238ft. (Lo Manthang)
Day 07: Day Riding for Lo Manthang Excursion
After spending overnight in Lo Manthang, we will spend another 2 days exploring the beautiful places here in this incredible Upper Mustang bike tour.
We can also see the breathtaking cliffs that are reddish-orange and have made the city famous. In a similar vein, we can tour the well-known five-story King’s Palace, which Ame Pal, the first Mustang king, built in the 1400s.
The palace is decorated with white lime paint, and holy books that date back to the 11th century, including Kanjur writings in the Ranjana Script, a Newari script.We’ll spend the night here for the second time on this Upper Mustang bike tour.
Accommodation: Guesthouse/Lodge
Max Altitude: 3,730m/12,238ft. (Lo Manthang )
Day 08: Continuing Lo Manthang Excursion Day
This will be the last excursion day on Lo Manthang on this Upper Mustang bike tour journey. So, make sure you spend your day fully exploring all the places that are yet to go today in this area, and most importantly, enjoy your day.
We can go to Champa Lakhang, where the big statue of Buddha is and the sacred Mandalas on the walls are. Similarly, we can go hiking to Namgyal Gompa, which serves as both a religious and local courthouse.
We can also explore places like Chodey Gompa, which is the main gompa of the city; Thubchen Gompa; Choprang Gompa; and Tsechen Shedrub Ling Monastery School to see the student monks. In these places, you will have a sense of spiritual atmosphere. This will be the final stay in La Manthang. So, sleep and rest well.
Accommodation: Guesthouse/Lodge
Day 09: Riding from Lo Manthang to Tatopani
It is the ninth day of our Upper Mustang bike tour journey of 12 days. After exploring Lo Manthang for two days, we’ll return to Tatopani riding 82 kilometers in total distance. We’ll start our return journey after having a hearty breakfast for the one last time.
We’ll transverse through lovely landscapes like deep canyons, green valleys, cliffs, and a lot of natural beauties on the trail. We’ll have reached Tatopani after riding for five to six hours. Then, you can again unwind in the natural hot springs like before.
You should take proper rest because tomorrow will also be a very long journey. So, you should prepare for the next day, and most importantly, check your bike to know whether there are any issues or problems with your bike to avoid any sort of problems on the way to Pokhara. You can explore Tatopani in your free time or try local foods. We spent overnight here.
Accommodation: Guesthouse/Lodge
Max Altitude: 1,190m/3,904ft. (Tatopani)
Day 10: Riding from Tatopani to Pokhara
We start our ride early after having a delicious breakfast in Tatopani. We’ll ride through Beni-Jomsom Road, following the Kali Gandaki River. When we reach Beni Bazaar, we will make a stop for some time here to get the necessary things needed for this long travel trip. Then, we eat lunch here in the hotel and take a few minutes break before resuming the trip.
We need to cover 110 kilometers from Tatopani to reach Pokhara. After riding for four to five hours, we will arrive back in Pokhara city. Later, you can travel over the Pokhara city, buy souvenirs, go to clubs or spas, go boating, and many more. We settle the overnight here in the standard accommodation.
Activity: 4-5 hours
Accommodation: Hotel
Max Altitude: 800m/2,625ft. (Pokhara)
Day 11: Riding Back from Pokhara to Kathmandu
We are returning from Pokhara to Kathmandu City today. We’ll be traveling the 200 km to Kathmandu City by bicycle along the same paths that previously followed the Trisuli Khola River. We can stop a few times across the road to take short breaks because this is the longest trip.
After riding for 6 to 7 hours, we will reach Kathmandu city and return to our hotel. Then you can have proper rest after this tiring, long-hour ride. If you’re up for it, you can explore Kathmandu by visiting clubs or taking a night stroll around the Thamel area. You’ll stay overnight here concluding the bike ride journey on this Upper Mustang bike tour itinerary.
Activity: 6-7 hours
Accommodation: Hotel
Max Altitude: 1,400m/4,593ft. (Kathmandu)
Day 12: Departure from Nepal
Today your Upper Mustang bike tour ends after this 12-day great adventure. You can also provide your honest feedback about the trip so that this will assist us in improving our services even better. Then, we transfer you to the airport, saying final goodbye to you.
We hope you have the most amazing time of your life on this bike trip adventure. Hope we see you again for the next thrilling excursion in Nepal with us to make again countless unforgettable best moments.
If our standard itinerary doesn't fully meet your needs, we are happy to tailor it to your specific preferences and requirements.
Trip Information of Upper Mustang Bike Tour
Best Seasons
If you want an unforgettable Upper Mustang bike tour, you must plan this travel at the right time. Because you can’t plan this trip in any month that you want in Nepal, unlike other tour packages. The finest time to go for a bike ride is the autumn season. There are clear skies with temperatures of 5°C to 20°C, which is perfect for motorcycle riding. The routes to Upper Mustang will also be very accessible and dry to ride steadily and properly during this season.
If you visit in May, we can also experience the Tiji Fiesta in Lo Manthang. Similarly, you can plan this travel in the spring month too, as there is mild and pleasant weather offering lush landscapes. Ten to twenty degrees Celsius will be the range of temperatures, with sporadic showers. In addition, Upper Mustang has a plethora of brilliant wildflowers and lush foliage during the spring. Winter travel is not a good idea, though, because of the frigid temperatures, bad weather, and possible road closures from snowfall.
An additional awful time to undertake the bike tour of Upper Mustang is summer season. Nepal July and August are the months that receive most of the rains in Nepal. Paths may become treacherous and muddy due to the rains after monsoon. For this reason, roadways are slippery and there are several accidents happening at the moment. Therefore, it is wise to remain out of the area for the time being.
Elevation & Distance
On this Upper Mustang bike tour, you will cover a total distance of 374 km from Kathmandu Valley to Muktinath in one trip. From Mustang, you have to cover a total distance of 46 kilometers to reach Lo Manthang. So, this is going to be a long bike-riding journey, especially made for travelers who love riding bikes. Similarly, you will ride about a total of 812 kilometers from Kathmandu City starting to the end of your journey in Kathmandu. You will have to ride four to five hours on average in a regular basis. So, you should have good experience riding bikes when you plan for the Upper Mustang bike tour.
You have to also be well aware of altitude sickness as you are riding at higher altitudes. When you are in Kathmandu, you will be at an altitude of 1400 meters. Pokhara lies at a lower elevation than Kathmandu at 8010 meters. When you ride Tatopani from Pokhara, you will be at an elevation of 1190 meters. From here, the altitude will be high. Muktinath lies at a height of 3760 meters. This will be the highest altitude in this whole trip. From here you will ride to Lo Manthang, which lies at an altitude of 3730 meters. Although there is less chance that you may suffer from sickness, it is crucial to know the signs of altitude sickness to prevent further serious problems.
Maximum & Minimum Bike Ride Per Day
The average ride per day will be 4 to 5 hours daily on this Upper Mustang bike tour journey. Your minimum ride will be three to four hours on the fifth and sixth days when traveling from Pokhara to Tatopani and Muktinath to Lo Manthang. Likewise, your maximum ride per day will be on the third and eleventh days when traveling from Kathmandu City to Pokhara or vice versa, for which you have to cover 200 kilometers of total distance. Riding can be tiring, so we will take short breaks at different stops during the journey.
Accommodation, Foods & Drinks
Your package includes 3 nights at Kathmandu and 2 nights at Pokhara in a standard hotel with twin-sharing rooms. You’ll stay in the local guesthouses or lodges during your overnight stays at Tatopani, Muktinath, and Lo Manthang. Some of these places have limited facilities due to their remote location. You will be served breakfast, lunch, and supper along the ride. All the guesthouses provide traditional Nepalese cuisine. Your dining expenses are included in the Upper Mustang bike tour package. And you must pay for any additional drinks that are not included in the bundle. We strongly encourage you not to drink alcohol because it can cause complications while riding a bike.
Permit
For this Upper Mustang bike tour, you need special permits to visit the Upper Mustang because this is a restricted area due to border security and cultural reasons. You must have an Annapurna Conservation Area Permit (ACAP) and an Upper Mustang Restricted Area Permit to continue riding in specific restricted area. You need to pay 20 dollars per person per day for ACAP, whereas you need to pay 500 dollars for the first ten days and 50 dollars for each extra day. You can get these permits through official departments in Kathmandu or Pokhara.
Transportation
In this Upper Mustang bike tour package, you will be mostly traveling on a bike when going to different locations of the itinerary. On the first and last days only, you will travel by our private vehicle for a short period when we pick you up and drop you off at the airport. All these bike and private vehicle costs are included in the package.
Insurance
Before embarking on any journey, you must have travel insurance that will cover your health issues, natural disasters, and emergency evacuation by helicopter so that you don’t have to worry about these extra expenses while you are traveling. In the same way, for this Upper Mustang bike tour, you should make sure that your travel insurance includes coverage for damage, theft, accidents, and medical expenses. Having travel insurance will free you from a lot of mental pressure and overthinking.
What to expect from this trip
This Upper Mustang bike tour will bring you to parts of Nepal that are away from the usual tourist routes and the ones that the locals living there. This ride lets you discover the ancient and extraordinary Upper Mustang which was never open to foreigners until 1992. The ancient kingdom of Lo Manthang, which is entrenched in Tibetan Buddhism, will be on your way as you ride through rocky trails along with the heat of the sun in your face.
The itinerary incorporates breathtaking views such as red hills and cliffs as well as white snowy summits like the Annapurna Range, Nilgiri, and Dhaulagiri. During this trip, you could also get to enjoy the energizing Tiji Festival in Lo Manthang, which will be full of lively traditional dances and rituals if you visit in May. This journey is a definite story-telling moment for the serious bikers and the lovers of adventure.
Frequently Asked Questions
A motorcycle is given a thorough inspection before it is handed over to our customers. You will also get to experience the test ride in Kathmandu Valley. In case you see any problems, we will either repair the bike or supply you with another one to help you with safety throughout the trip.
Upper Mustang’s fuel stations are uncommon, particularly in rural locations. Carry extra petrol and schedule your refueling stops to avoid running out.
Yes, you need some experience due to the challenging roads and traffic. Be sure you could ride for somewhat7 hours a day in the mountain areas.
For the Upper Mustang bike tour, wear riding trousers and a jacket with a sweater, sunglasses, lip balm, sunblock, riding gloves, a full helmet, riding boots, a mask, a muffler, goggles, and a neck warmer.
Pack your personal toiletries warm socks comfortable pants, shoes, sandals, a light towel, t-shirt, a sweater and a warm jacket. You should also remember to take the video camera mobile or GoPro if you got them.
Bring standard tools like wrenches and pliers, plus spare inner tubes, a tire repair kit, a chain repair tool, and extra brake pads. These items will assist you handle any mechanical problems that may occur on the road.
- Owner operated
- Price match guaranteed
- Tailored made trip
- Secured online payment
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